The Dillon tribune., 1887-12-09

two, but many man in Montana in the
spring Of IS felt inclined to turn his nose
up at it, and "sighed for the girl he'd left
behind him. and his mothers pantry as
we'll.
Recollect all our supplies in those days
were handled by wagon from the Missouri
river, and if at the end Of the freiyhting
season the Territory was short in any one
staple article of fconsumption-or,i if sharps
chose to buy up all the supply OF any arti-
Gle they cou.a demand and get their own
price for the same, as no more could be
shipped in until spring opened. But a
brighter day was dawning for Montana and
Montana's pioneer. The energy and pluck
which is always strong feature in the set
tier Of new country showed its. { in a
marked degree. New and rich mines were
struck; agriculture and stock raising, al.
though thought rather slow way of amass-
ing competency, in those stirring times,
began to receive attention; and with rota
toes at IS cents per pound and grain at IS
cents as they were in the fall of 1865, the
potatoes, especially were regarded as pretty
good di;ggingS.
Two years Of bountiful returns for every
species Of industry strengthened the al.
ready growing love the pioneer had for
this, his beautiful mountain home, and he
was content. The rough, cottonwood log
cabins, with their uneven walls, were pull.
ed down, and more commodious ones of
pine logs, occupied their places. The cot.
tonwood fence was replaced by the pine
pole from the mountains. The small po.
tato patch had grown to be large, we'll
cultivated field. The farmer had mastered
the art Of irrigation. He had caused the
desert to bloom like the rose. The raw
hides on the dirt floor were replaced by
lumber. The large, open Fireplace still
did duty-but the $3.50 or $500 stove could
often be seen. The necessaries and even
luxuries OF life stole, one by one, upon his
table.
Think OF it: ye who hear me tonight! !,
Twenty.three years ago our Eastern mail
was month old before it reached us! Our
nearest postoftices were Bannack and Vir-
ginia City. Our nearest church SO far
away I never reached it! Twenty.th
years ago there was but one white family
and but three cabins all up and down this
beautiful valley-from Point of Rocks to
Ryan's Canyon-a distance of twenty three
miles. Surely "westward the star of en-
pire takes its way'" The prairie schooner
has been replaced by the iron horse and the
palace car-the calico pony by the fast.
stopper and stately Norman. The log cab.
in of the pioneer and the wig wam of the
Indian by handsome churches and elegant
buildings, both public and private The
hum Of the threshing machine and the
the shrick Of the steam whistle have taken
the place OF the bark Of the coyote and the
whoop Of the savage.
The pioneer Of Montana has accomplish
cd his nission-vanguard of civilization!
Braving alike the merciless road agent and
the treachcrous red skin he paved the way
for the thousands who followed in his foot
steps-(no longer dangercus) footsteps
marked By peril, privation, toll and hard
ship. Our mining and agricultural re-
sources are rapidly advancing, and through
out the length and breadth of our beautiful
Beaverhead Valley reigns the angel Of,
peace and plenty.